Sammy Blais’ stint with the Toronto Maple Leafs has ended as the Montreal Canadiens claimed him off waivers on Thursday. This move comes after the Canadiens lost Blais to the Maple Leafs on waivers before the 2025-26 season, despite having signed him to a one-year, $775,000 contract this summer. Since no other NHL team put in a claim, Montreal was able to assign Blais to their AHL affiliate in Laval.
Reclaiming Blais strengthens Montreal’s forward lineup, which is currently strained by injuries to key players like Patrik Laine, Kirby Dach, and Alex Newhook. To cope with these absences, the Canadiens recently promoted forwards Florian Czekaj and Jared Davidson, who have contributed in limited games. Blais played eight games for Toronto this season, tallying one goal and two assists, along with 28 hits and a minus-2 rating.
Originally from Montmarny, Quebec, Blais is currently back in the AHL, where he previously won the Calder Cup with the Abbotsford Canucks last year, scoring 40 points in 51 regular-season games and 19 points in 23 playoff games. His upcoming AHL appearance will mark his 200th career game, with 145 points in total. In the NHL, Blais has appeared in 265 games, scoring 28 goals and providing 46 assists. He was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the sixth round (176th overall) in 2014 and won the Stanley Cup with them in 2018-19.
Blais’ return to Montreal offers the Canadiens a low-risk addition due to his affordable salary cap hit and valuable experience. He is expected to contribute meaningfully once back with the team.
Fan Take: This waiver shuffle highlights the strategic moves teams make to manage their rosters amid injuries and salary cap constraints. For hockey fans, Blais’ return to Montreal could provide a boost to the Canadiens’ depth, potentially impacting their performance as the season progresses.
